Caltech Move In and Move Out Guide for Parents

Move In Day for new students

New undergraduates move in on Saturday, Sept 19, 2026, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Orientation says student volunteers and Caltech staff will be posted around campus to help with unloading, check in and finding each residence. Family Orientation follows that afternoon from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., so plan to stay through the evening rather than dropping off and driving away.

International students arrive earlier for iBegin@Caltech, Sept 17 to 19.

Coming even earlier needs Housing's approval. The housing contract says students in New Student Orientation, International Student Orientation and FSRI are not charged for housing during those programs, while other early arrivals must be in a Caltech sponsored program, be approved by Housing, and pay a prorated daily rate.

Returning students

The 2026 to 27 undergraduate housing contract begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept 23, 2026. Housing says it will email check in procedures to every resident before that date, so ask your student to watch their Caltech inbox in the weeks before.

What the room comes with

The Resident Guide lists a desk, desk chair, dresser and bed for each undergraduate resident. Housing's Moving In page also has a packing list, room condition forms and a remote check in form, which are worth reading together before you shop.

What to leave at home

Housing prohibits, among other things:

• Cooking devices such as toaster ovens, broilers, skillets and hot plates
• Candles of any kind, incense, fireworks and torches
• Space heaters and kerosene or oil lamps
• Tapestries and wall hangings made of burlap or other flammable material
• Extension cords longer than six feet
• Air conditioning units not installed by Housing
• Gasoline powered items such as motorcycles and mopeds

Shipping things ahead

Boxes sent to your student go through the Tech Express in the Keith Spalding Building lobby, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on weekdays. Mail Services accepts U.S. Postal Service mail plus express carriers including FedEx, OnTrac, DHL and Amazon. For boxes that arrive before your student does, follow the incoming student address format on the Housing Moving In page. Mail Services holds packages for up to 3 days, so do not ship too far ahead. Once your student has an MSC number, use the address format on the Local Life page.

Moving out

Caltech's move out rules are about paperwork as much as packing. According to the Resident Guide, a resident must:

1. Submit the online Intent to Vacate form 15 days before leaving
2. Remove every personal item
3. Submit the Room Check Out form on the way out
4. Return keys or combinations to the Housing Office

Skipping the process can bring a $100 improper checkout fee. Housing inspects each room right after checkout.

At the end of the year, the contract ends at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2027, the morning after Commencement and the last day of undergraduate finals. Winter recess does not require moving out, since Housing stays open year round, but residents should tell Housing if they plan to stay over a break.

Storage and shipping home

Plan this part early. The Resident Guide says storage space is not available for personal items, and the housing contract says Caltech will not store, box up or ship anything left behind. Items left after checkout are removed and discarded at the resident's expense.

That leaves families with a few common routes:

• Ship boxes home with a carrier such as USPS, UPS or FedEx
• Rent a self storage unit in the Pasadena area for the summer
• Pack light enough to bring things home on the flight
• Ask Housing about the summer lottery if your student is staying in Pasadena for the summer

Housing's Moving Out page lists the forms, and its Student Storage section says Caltech does not provide storage and points students to nearby self storage units. The Housing Office answers at (626) 395-6176, weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.